This book seemed to be everywhere on social media around National Book Shop Day, so that inspired me to want to read it. It’s a short charming read about the joys of quirky little indie book shops, the joy of reading, and the shared love and delight that can be found between the covers of a book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for a review.

This was just fine. I think it was a cosy read with a lot of deep thinking but it felt like more of the same sort of novels that are out there.

I enjoyed this gentle story about a young girl finding solace in a bookshop after a relationship break up. The characters are brought to life and the quirky bookshop can be visualised. Although sad in parts it has quite an uplifting ending.

The premise of this book meant it could have been a firm favourite, however, I really struggled with it. I’m unsure if it’s the translation but the language and writing style felt very stilted and unnatural. It all felt a bit juvenile to me, the characters were flat and I couldn’t relate to them which meant I couldn’t get invested in the story.
I wasn’t expecting the thriller of the century but I did hope for more than a bland story.
Perhaps it got lost in translation.

This short novel (really a novella) takes me back to Tokyo, where I lived for some years. So it was nice to read about places and people I recognise, but also a little jarring. The translation strays too far into 'Western' expressions, in my opinion, which hides nuances of the story. It comes across as a rather shallow romantic tale of an immature girl. But actually, it is about the main characters discovering themselves outside the mainstream.

The book is a first-person narrative by the young woman Takako that tells the reader what she's experiencing, rather than showing it. Although that seems clunky, it emphasises the gap between truth and Takako's perception. Meanwhile, there are description of people and places that I found very evocative.

This is a rather charming take about the importance of family and the healing power of books.

When Takako's heart is broken, her uncle - whose wife had run away sometime before, offers her a refuge in his bookshop. Initially uninterested in musty old books, she soon picks one of them up and gets lost in the story.. I really liked this first part, but then we hit part two. A few years on and Momoko, (the errant wife) returns. This part feels a bit choppy and doesn't flow as well. I don't know if this is in the original text, or to do with the translation.. I did like the story, but found my attention wandered a bit during the second half due to that lack of flow. It looks as though there will be a follow up book which I will certainly be looking out for..

*Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an DRC in exchange for an honest opinion.*

Takao has a shock when her boyfriend announces that he’s marrying someone else. To distance herself, she accepts a job at her uncle’s bookshop, living in the tiny flat above. Gradually, she discovers the healing power of books and a new respect for her uncle. A short book, great for anyone who loves to read.

This is the first book I have read which has been translated from Japanese, it was a lovely story which I really enjoyed. A cosy autumn read that I would most definitely recommend. Enjoy it because I certainly did

A treasure of a book. It made me smile, getting to know relatives and find out your perception of them and yourself is incorrect. Discovering new things through books and people's book choices.
Enjoy I did

"Days at the Morisaki Bookshop" by Satoshi Yagisawa is a heartwarming tale of love and renewal set in the quaint Morisaki Bookshop in Tokyo. When Takako's relationship crumbles, she takes refuge in her uncle Satoru's eccentric, second-hand bookshop. Here, amidst the shelves of books, they discover the healing power of literature and its ability to offer profound life lessons. As summer turns to autumn, the quirky characters, the bookshop's charm, and the wisdom hidden within its pages help both Takako and Satoru mend their hearts and find solace. This beautifully written narrative is a tribute to the comfort and transformation that books can bring during challenging times.

It never ceases to amaze me how brilliantly books such as this are translated. This is the first Japanese translation I have read and it is a very easy read that I finished inside a day. The Japanese background to the tail is not lost in translation and the story it tells us easy to understand. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the char to read and review this book.

A lovely book, a tale of love, new beginnings, and the comfort that can be found between the pages of a good book. It is one of those books that transports you making you forget about real life and full of delightful characters that spring to life. I actually felt like I was there in the story with them ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a quaint, slice of life story that is equally heartwarming and memorable. The premise is quite simple but the storytelling is engaging and I fell in love with the main characters. A quick read for a cosy afternoon!

'Days at the Morisaki Bookshop' is an enjoyable read; an entertaining story of the characters as their lives become intertwined around this little used-book store is heartwarming and gentle. Lyrical and often funny in places, it was a refreshing read.

The Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is an extraordinary contemporary fiction book that masterfully blends various elements to create an immersive and unforgettable reading experience. The story is set in Japan and features a cast of complex characters that are beautifully developed throughout the book.

The protagonist, Takako, is a young woman who has been betrayed by her boyfriend. Seeking comfort and refuge, she turns to her uncle, Satoru, who owns a charming secondhand bookshop. The shop is a place of solace and contemplation, filled with books that offer a respite from the outside world.

As the story progresses, Takako's life begins to transform as she discovers a newfound love for the neighborhood and the local coffee shop. The book explores themes of love, loss, and the search for belonging, weaving together a rich tapestry of emotions that will leave readers moved and inspired.

Uncle Satoru is a fascinating character who adds depth and complexity to the story. He has his own story to tell, one of heartbreak and resilience, and his relationship with Takako is at the heart of the book. The power of books is a recurring theme, and the author deftly shows how they can be a source of comfort, inspiration, and transformation.

Overall, The Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a beautifully written, evocative, and thought-provoking book that will capture the hearts and minds of readers. It is a one-sit read that will leave you charmed and inspired, reminding us of the magic that books can bring into our lives.

A short book set in a bookshop in Japan. This is a calm story about how books and reading are important and about simple pleasures in life.
Like a lot of Japanese translated books it has its charm to it touching on deep heartfelt topics. The main character Takako has been dumped by her boyfriend who she has found out has been dating 2 women at the same time. She has had to leave work as a result of her situation. Feeling stupid and lost, she gets a call from her Uncle Satoru, who runs a bookshop in the Bookshop District of Tokyo, who offers her a room to live in and a job.
A great short read to build up your book goal. Great backstory to the characters which help you feel sympathy and want to learn more about them. This had a similar feeling to Toshikazu Kawaguchi style,but Before The Coffee Gets Cold is definitely better and grabbed me more than this, but this was still good and unqiue.

I will say some triggers for divorce, long-term illness and heartbreak.

Takako is mortified to find the boyfriend she thought she had was just using her whilst courting someone else. The worst thing was as he was a work colleague that she lost her job as well as the person she thought was the love gif her life. She reluctantly goes to work with her Uncle Satoru who she's not really seen for years. She initially spends her time trying to sleep her woes away but the bookshop slowly works its magic on her and starts to revive her. A gentle story of relationships.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is short but sweet. This novel mainly focuses on the relationship between a niece, uncle, his wife and new beginnings.
Japanese novels like this one always feel so serene, even with the heavier topics being discussed throughout.
I enjoyed my time with this one 💖

Lovely little book about a young woman who goes to live with her uncle following the discovery that her boyfriend is awful, her uncle runs a bookshop and at first she finds this repellant but over time she begins to read the books and her life opens up. Set in Japan, this is a calm story about how books and reading are important and about simple pleasures in life.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm usually a huge fan of Japanese literature, and I enjoy the quiet, introspective style that is common to the Japanese authors that I've tried. This one has that same quiet feeling, and overall I did enjoy it, but it didn't quite capture me the same way.

I loved the setting of a bookshop, as a bookseller myself, and that experience of discovering reading itself, of finding yourself drawn into those new worlds and experiences, is really well represented. The characters were interesting and clearly individuals, but I struggled a bit with the pacing and some of the plot.

It does have a charm to it, and some of the topics are deep and heartfelt - I enjoyed those parts the most, and I think they worked well. It just didn't feel seamless and at times it was a bit slow.

I'd probably go with 3.5 stars for this but it won't let me rate that here, so I'm with 3, as I can't quite go up to 4. Whether some of it is lost in translation or it's just a matter of personal taste, I'm not sure, so I would recommend people read it for themselves if it's a genre they usually enjoy.